Pre-loaded electrical connectors, assembly apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Multi-contact electrical connector assembly comprises two connector housings which are preloaded with contact terminals. The contact terminals have slotted plate-type conductor receiving portions so that conductors can be connected to the terminals by moving the conductors into the slots. Predetermined conductors can be electrically and mechanically connected to predetermined terminals in each of the housings by positioning the housings beside each other, locating intermediate portion of each conductor over corresponding aligned terminals in the housings, moving the conductors into the slots of the terminals, and cutting out the section of conductor which extends between the terminals.

[ Oct. 15, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Aldridge et a1.

3,745,512 7/1973 Johnson ct 339/101 1 1 PRlE-LOADED ELECTRICAL PrimaryExaminer-Joseph H. McGlynn Attorney, Agent, or Firm-AMP IncorporatedEdward Dennman Bunnell, Palm Harbor, both of Fla,

[57] ABSTRACT Multi-contact electrical connector assembly comprises [73]Assignee: AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.

Jan. 8, 1973 two connector housings which are preloaded with [22] Filed.

contact terminals. The contact terminals have slotted plate-typeconductor receiving portions so that con- [21] Appl. No.: 321,505

ductors can be connected to the terminals by moving the conductors intothe slots. Predetermined conductors can be electrically and mechanicallyconnected to predetermined terminals in each of the housings bypositioning the housings beside each other, locating 8 9 0 9 9 4. H 79h4 3 t 095 "3 7 3 4 u 9 m" 3 .n 3 mm mh C .r Ha E S IL m 1 ew .w UmF111 2 8 555 .111

intermediate portion of each conductor over corresponding alignedterminals in the housings, moving the [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS conductors into the slots of the terminals, and cuttingout the section of conductor which extends between the terminals.

12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 3,355,699 11/1967 Oshva 3,617,983 ll/l97lPattonm.............,.. 3 708 779 l/l973 Enright et a1.

MENIEB BUT I 51974 SHEET 10F 6 PAIENTEB BUT I 5 I974 SHEET a 0? 6PIKE-LOADED ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS, ASSEMBLY APPARATUS AND METHODBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to multicontactelectrical connecting devices such as multi-contact electricalconnectors and to apparatus for installing such connectors onconductors. The invention is herein disclosed in a preferred embodimentcomprising a pair of mateable hermaphroditic connectors but theprinciples of the invention are applicable to a wide variety ofmulticontact connecting devices.

It is common practice in the electrical connector art to producemulti-contact electrical connectors by first cutting electrical leadsfrom a coil of wire, stripping insulation from the ends of the leads,crimping electrical contact terminals onto the stripped ends, andfinally in setting the terminals into the cavities of an electricalconnector housing. Frequently, and particularly in the manufacture ofelectrical harnesses, the terminals can not be inserted indiscriminatelyinto the cavities but must be inserted into specific predeterminedcavities in the housing since the leads or wires in a harness are notnecessarily of the same length and each lead must be connected to apredetermined lead in a mating harness when the harness is put to use.This method of installing connectors on conductors is time consuming andinsufficient and has several comparative disadvantages which can resultin the production of defective harnesses. For example, during theinterval between crimping of the terminals onto the conductors andinsertion of the terminals into the cavities of the connector housing,the electrical leads must be repeatedly handled and transported from onework location to another. The terminals are subject to damage duringthis interval and if one or more terminals in a finished harness isfound to be damaged, it must be replaced or the harness discarded.Furthermore, the fact that predetermined terminals must be inserted intopredetermined cavities in the connector housing gives rise to thepossibility of a terminal being inserted into the wrong cavity and theproduction of a defective harness. The present invention is generallyaddressed to the solution of some of these manufacturing problems.

It is also common practice in the connector art to produce an electricalconnector assembly consisting of a male part and a female part so thatfour distinctly different types of parts are required for amulti-contact electrical connector assembly (male contact pins, malehousing, female contact sockets, and female housings). Hermaphroditicconnector assemblies are known to the art (connector assembliesconsisting of two identical housings and one type of contact terminal)but the number of types of hermaphroditic assemblies avail able is verylimited. The instant invention is further addressed to the provision ofan improved hermaphroditic connector which can be substituted under manycircumstances for currently used types of male-female connectorassemblies.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an improvedmulti-contact electrical connector and an improved multi-contactelectrical connector assembly. A further object is to provide animproved hermaphroditic connector and connector assembly. A stillfurther object is to provide a connector assembly, which may or may notbe hermaphroditic, to which conductors can be assembled in an improvedmanner. A further object is to provide a pair of mateable preloadedelectrical connectors having contact terminals therein to whichpredetermined conductors can be connected in a manner which will reducethe possibility of wiring errors as regards the electrical connectionsbetween the conductors and the terminals in the connectors. A furtherobject is to provide an improved method and apparatus for connectingconductors to the terminals in a pair of mateable preloaded electricalconnectors.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a preferredembodiments thereof which are briefly described in the foregoingabstract, which are described in detail below and which are shown in theaccompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hermaphroditic electrical connectorassembly in accordance with the invention, the two connector parts beingcoupled to each other thereby to connect the wires extending into eachconnector part.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a hermaphroditic electrical connectorhousing in accordance with the invention showing acontact terminalexploded from one of the contact receiving cavities of the housing.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the housing of FIG. 2.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views taken along the lines 4-4 and 5--5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3 but showing contactterminals and conductors installed in the contact receiving cavities ofthe housing.

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the contactportions of two mateable contact terminals of the type shown in FIG. 2,this view showing the contact portions separated from each other.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the contact portions inengagement with each other.

' FIG. 10 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing two connectorparts positioned side-by-side in a connector holding jig preparatory tothe formation of electrical connections between terminals in theconnector parts and a conductor.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the positions of theparts at the conclusion of the connection operation.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one form of assembly apparatus forconnecting conductors to terminals in connectors in accordance with theinvention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a multi-contact electrical connector assembly 2 inaccordance with the invention comprises a pair of connector parts 4, 4'which can be coupled to, and decoupled from, each other to connect anddisconnect the conductors 6 and 6'. The connector part 4 and the contactterminals 14 which are contained in this connector part are identical tothe connector part 4 and the terminals 14'. Accordingly, a descriptionof the connector part 4 and a description of one of the contactterminals 14 will suffice forboth connector parts. The same referencenumerals, differentiated by prime marks will be used to identifycorresponding structural features of the two connector parts.

Connector part 4 comprises a housing 4 of insulating material having anupper ormating face 8 and an underside or rearward face 10. A pluralityof contact receiving cavities 12 extend into the housing from the matingface 8, and are arranged in a row which extends between the ends 32, 42of the housing. Each cavity has a central transversely extending rib 13(FIGS. 3 and which serves to support and locate a contact terminalmounted therein as will be explained below. Openings 16 are provided inthe side 18 which extends between the ends 32, 42 and communicate withthe cavities 12 for the accomodation of the conductors 6 as shown inFIG. 1. The side 20 which faces in the opposite direction from the side18 is centrally offset or stepped as shown at 22 and three upstandingteeth 24, 26, 28 project from the mating face 8 adjacent to side 20 ofthe housing. The tooth 28 is imiediately adjacent to the portion 23 ofthe side 20 so that when the connector 4 is mated with the connector 4'the teeth 28, 28' will be against the portions 21, 21' of the sides 20,20 as indicated in FIG. 3. An elongated recess 30 extends inwardly onthe mating face 8 in alignment with the teeth 24, 26 which are set backfrom the portion 21 of the side 20. When the two housings are mated, therecess 30 will receive the teeth 24, 26' of the housing 4' and therecess 30' will similarly receive the teeth 24, 26 of the housing 4. Itwill be apparent from FIG. 2 that the teeth 24, 26, 28 are located onthe mating face 8 such that wires or conductors extending between theteeth will extend over cavities 12 and will be above and in alignmentwith the contact terminals contained in these cavities. As will beexplained below, these teeth serve to locate the conductors when theconnector is installed on a plurality of conductors.

A partial hood 34 extends upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, from therighthand end 32 of the housing 4 and partially surrounds the matingface 8. An opening 36 (see FIG. 3) extends through the housing adjacentto the end 32 from the mating face to the lower or rearward face 10,this opening being generally rectangular and having a central inwardlyextending boss 38 which defines a downwardly facing shoulder 40. Theupper side 39 of base 38 is inclined downwardly toward the rearward face40 in order to facilitate the flexing of the latch arm 50' of theconnector part 4 during coupling as will be described below.

An additional pair of spaced apart teeth 44, 46 extend from the matingface 8 adjacent to the end 42, these teeth having a thickness which issubstantially equal to. and slightly less than, the width of the opening36 so that the teeth 44, 46 of the connector part 4 can enter theopening 36' of the connector part 4' as shown in FIG. 7. The teeth 44,46 are inwardly spaced from the side 42 so that ledges 48 are providedadjacent to the teeth at their fixed ends. A flexible latch arm 50extends from the lefthand end of the mating face 8 between the teeth 44,46 and has a pointed upper end 52 and a downwardly facing shoulder 54adjacent to its upper end. An opening 56 extends through the housingfrom the rearward face thereof and has one side which merges with theoutwardly facing side 47 of the latch arm to permit access to the end ofthe latch arm for decoupling purposes when the connector part 4 iscoupled to the part 4.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the housing 4 can be coupledto the housing 4' by locating the housings in face-to-face relationshipand in end-to-end inverted relationship (end 32 of housing 4 inalignment with end 42' of housing 4') and moving the housings towardseach other. During such movement, the latch arm 50 will move against theboss 38 and be flexed inwardly until the shoulder 54 is against theshoulder 40' of the housing 4' as shown in FIG. 7. The teeth 24, 26 willenter the recess 30, and the tooth 28 move across the side portion 21 ofside 20 as discussed above. The relationship of the housing 4' to thehousing 4 is, of course, the same as that of the housing 4 to thehousing 4. It should be noted (FIG. 7) that when the housings arecoupled, the mating faces are against each other and portions of theledges 48 are against the side portions of the boss 38.

The two housings can be disengaged from each other by inserting thinblades through the openings 56, 56' and disengaging the ends of thelatch arms from the shoulders 40, 40'. Advantageously, projections 55,57 are provided at the ends of the housings to permit manual gripping ofthe two parts during separation.

Each of the electrical contact terminals 14 has a central conductorreceiving portion made up of a pair of parallel plate-like members 58,60 which are connected at their upper or free ends by spaced-apartstraps 62. Conductor receiving slots 64 extend into these plate sectionsfrom their upper ends so that a conductor can be moved downwardlybetween the plate sections and into the slots. The slots are of a widthsuch that they will penetrate the insulation of the conductor and deformthe metallic core thereof so that the edges of the slots will be broughtinto intimate electrical contact with the metallic cores of theconductors as shown in FIG. 7. Advantageously, the slot in the platesection 60 is relatively narrower than the slot in the plate section 58so that the slot in the former plate section will drastically deform themetallic core of a conductor 6 and establish good electrical contacttherewith while the slot in the plate section 58 will penetrate theinsulation of the wire but will not drastically deform the metalliccore. This arrangement provides good electrical contact in combinationwith a mechanical strain relief for the wire as explained in US. Pat.No. 3,617,983. A flange 66 extends normally outwardly from the platesection and arms 68 extend upwardly from the end of this flange. Thesearms are adapted to be crimped into embracing relationship with aconductor to provide a strain relief therefor.

An additional flange or plate section 70 extends from the plate section60 and has contact arms 72, 74 extending upwardly from its side edges.As shown best in FIG. 8, the contact arms 72 is relatively long and itsupper end 78 is above the upper ends of the plate sections 58, 60 of theterminal. The upper end of arm 72 is formed inwardly to provide aninclined surface and a boss 82. The shorter contact arm 74 extendsgenerally parallel to arm 72 and is formed inwardly to provide aspherical surface 76 on its inner side. When two contact terminals areinverted and moved towards each other, the contact arms engage eachother as shown in FIG. 9. The boss 76' slides over the surface 80 andflexes the arm 72 inwardly until boss 76' is moved past the contact boss82. As is apparent from FIG. 9, redundant contacts are achieved at fourseparate locations and the long and flexible arms 72, 72' are flexedinwardly by the short and stiff arms 74, 74' to provide the continuingcontact pressure required for a low resistance and stable electricalconnection.

A shearing plate 84 extends normally of the flange or plate section 70and parallel to the plate sections 58, 60. The upper edge 126 of thisshearing plate cooperates with an insertion apparatus to sever theconductor being inserted into the slot 64 as will be described be low.

The contact terminals 14 are assembled to the housing 4 by merely movingthem into the cavities 12 as indicated in FIG. 2. Ears 67, which extendlaterally from flange 66, dig into the walls of the cavity as do thelaterally extending barbs 86 at each side of the shearing plate 84 sothat the contacts will be securely anchored in their respectivecavities. The ribs 13 of the cavities are received between the platesections 58, 60 at the lower ends thereof and support these platesections against buckling during installation of the connector onconductors.

Referring now to FIGS. -12, the conductors 6, 6' are connected to thetemrinals 14, 14' by means of an apparatus 101 which has insertionpunches 110 (FIG. 11) for pushing the conductors into the conductorreceiving portions of aligned terminals in two connector parts. The twoconnector parts 4, 4 are positioned on a holding jig 88 having a base 90and a pair of spaced apart L-shaped locating clamps 92, 92. These plateshave aligned recesses 94, 94' which are spaced apart by distancescorresponding to the spacing between adjacent cavities 12 in theconnector parts. The connector parts 4, 4' are located in side by siderelationship between the locating plates 92, 92 with Their sides againsteach other with corresponding contact terminals in the two part inalignment with each other, and with the vertical legs 94 of the clampsagainst the sides 18, 18'. The base 90 has rails 96 on its underside sothat it can be slid in grooves 98 on the sides of a fixed rail 100mounted on the base section 102 of the apparatus 101. The apparatus hasa generally U-shaped head frame 104 on which there is provided aforwardly extending arm 106. A ram 108 is mounted in suitable bushingsin arm 106 and is resiliently biased upwardly by suitable springs (notspecifically shown) against one end 130 of a bell crank 128. A pluralityof wire cutting and. inserting punches 110 are mounted on the lower endof ram 108, one punch being provided for each pair of aligned terminals14, 14 in the connector parts. Each insertion and cutting punch 110 hasa central recess 112 and depending legs 114, 114 on each side of thisrecess, these legs being substantially identical and mirror images ofeach other. The leg 114 has a central relatively shallow recess 116which is adapted to receive the spaced apart plates 158,160 of theconductor receiving section of the terminal 14 and has on the righthandside of this recess forming or die surfaces 122 on its lower end forcurling the arms 68 of the terminal onto the conductor 6. On thelefthand side of recess 116, the leg 114 has an edge 124 whichcooperates with upper edge 126 of the previously identified shearingplate 84 of the terminal 114. The lower edge portions 118, 120 of theleg .114 immediately adjacent to the recess 116 are adapted to engagethe conductor and push it downwardly into the conductor receiving slots64 of the terminal.

The insertion punches on the lower end of the ram are moved downwardlyby means of a linkage comprising the previously identified bell crank128 which is pivoted at 132 between ears 133 extending from the uppersurface of the arm 106. Bell crank 128 is pivotally connected byparallel links 134 to a lever arm 136 which in turn has its end pivotedat 138 between additional ears 139 which are integral with the headframe 104. It will be apparent that the ram 108 and therefore theinsertion punches 110 can be moved downwardly as viewed in FIG. 12 bymerely swinging the lever 136 downwardly from its position as shown.

When conductors are to be attached to terminals in the connector parts4, 4', the two connector parts are first positioned on the jig 88.Elongated conductors 6a are then located in each aligned pair ofopenings 93, 93' in the vertical legs 94, 94' of the locating plates 92,92. Conductors located in aligned pairs of slots 93, 93 will extendbetween the teeth 24, 26, 24', 26' between the teeth 26, 28, 26', 28,and between the teeth 28, 28' and partial hoods 34, 34'. This operationwill locate one conductor above each aligned pair of terminals 14, 14 inthe two connector parts.

The jig 88 is then slid along the rail until it is against a suitablestop (not specifically shown) and is located beneath the ram 108 with aninsertion punch 112 above each conductor 6a. The handle 136 is thenswung downwardly to drive the punches against the conductors and pushthe conductors downwardly into the aligned terminals in the connectors.During such downward movement of the punches 110, the conductors aresevered by the edges 126, 124 and 126', 124' of the punches 110 and theshear plates 84, 84. This severing operation produces a short section 6bof scrap conductor which extends between the aligned terminals andresults in the joining of the conductors 6, 6 to the terminals in thetwo connector parts. Thereafter, the ram is returned to its normalposition, the connector parts are removed from the jig 88 and they canbe coupled to each other as shown in FIG. 1.

The practice of the invention results in several advantages andeconomies in the manufacture of electrical harnesses and intheinstallation of connectors on conductors. A significant advantage isthat predetermined conductors are connected to specificallypredetermined terminals in the connector housings when the conductorsare laced through the jig and inserted and trimmed as illustrated inFIGS. 10 and 11. It follows that the possibility of the commission oferrors is virtually eliminated with regard to the positions of the wiresin the connectors. In other words, after a given conductor 6 has beenlocated in alignment with a predetermined aligned pair of terminals 14,14 it is inevitable that the resulting conductors 6, 6' will beconnected to each other when the two connector parts are mated with eachother. There can be no errors of the type discussed above ofmisplacement of conductors in either of the connector housings.

A further advantage of the invention is that there can be no damage tothe terminals since they are contained in and protected by the housing.Finally, the time required for location of the conductors 6a in the jigis substantially less than the time required inserting individualterminals into predetermined cavities of a housing in accordance withprior art practice. This is because the operation of locating a givenone of the conductors 6a above a given pair 14, 14' of terminalsactually determines the identity of the conductors which in thecompleted connector assembly will be connected to the same predeterminedpair of terminals. The location of a single conductor 6a thus results inthe determina tion of the locations of two separate conductors 6, 6' inthe housings.

Modifications of the invention withinthe scope of the appended claimswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, theprinciples of the invention are not necessarily apparent all only tohermaphroditic connectors and terminals although hermaphroditicterminals are advantageous under many circumstances.

What is claimed is:

1. First and second electrical connectors, said connectors beingpre-loaded with electrical contact terminals to which conductors can beattached, said connectors being mateable with each other,

said first and second connectors each comprising an insulating, housinghaving a mating face and a rearward face, said mating faces beingagainst each other when said connectors are coupled, a plurality ofcontact receiving cavities extending into said housing from said matingface, said cavities being in side-by-side relationship and forming arow,

an electrical contact terminal in each of said cavities,

each of said contact terminals comprising a contact portion and aconductor-receiving portion,

each of said conductor-receiving portions having a conductor receivingslot means extending inwardly in a direction normal to said mating face,said slot means being side-by-side in said row and each slot means beingadapted to receive a conductor which extends across said mating face andacross said row upon movement of said conductor laterally of its axistowards said mating face and into said slot means,

each of said contact portions having contact surfaces which areproximate to said mating face and which are adapted to engage, and forman electrical connection with, complementary contact surfaces uponrelative movement of said complementary contact surfaces towards saidmating face and into engagement with said contact surfaces, said contactsurfaces of said contact terminals in one of said connectors beingcomplementary to said contact surfaces of said contact terminals in theother one of said connectors whereby, predetermined conductors can beconnected to said terminals in said first and second connectors bypositioning said first and second connectors adjacent to each other withtheir mating faces in side-by-side relationship and facing in the samedirection, locating said conductors with their axes extending acrosssaid mating faces and in alignment with said conductor-receiving slotmeans of each of two corresponding terminals in said first and secondconnectors, moving said conductors laterally of their axes into saidslot means, and cutting out the portion of each conductor which isbetween each corresponding pair of terminals.

2. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 1, saidinsulating housings and said contact terminals being hermaphroditic.

3. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 1, saidcontact terminals being hermaphroditic.

4. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 3, eachof said contact terminals being of formed sheet metal, saidconductor-receiving portion comprising a pair of plate-sections, saidslot means of each of said terminals comprising a slot extending intoeach of said plate sections.

5. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 4, saidplate-sections extending parallel to each other and having outer ends,said outer ends being joined by spaced-apart strap sections.

6. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 5, eachof said contact terminals having its contact portions extending from oneof said plate sections and comprising a pair of contact arms extendingtowards said mating face, at least one of said arms extending beyondsaid outer ends of said plate sections.

7. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 6, eachof said contact terminals having conductor gripping means extending fromthe other one of said plate sections, said conductor gripping meansbeing engageable with a conductor to grip, and provide a strain relieffor, a conductor extending into said slots in said plate sections.

8. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 7, eachof said contact terminals having conductor severing means integral withsaid contact portion, said conductors severing means comprising ashearing member extending beside said contact arms, said shearing memberbeing cooperable with an insertion apparatus to shear the portion ofsaid conductor which extends beyond said contact arms during insertionof said conductor into said slots.

9. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 1, saidinsulating housings being hermaphroditic.

10. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 9, eachof said insulating housings comprising a one piece molding of polymericmaterials, said contact-receiving cavities extending into said matingface.

1 1. First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 10,each of said housings having openings in one side thereof which extendsbeside, and parallel to, said row, said openings communicating with saidcavities for the accomodation of said conductors.

12. First and second electrical connectors, each of said connectorscomprising an insulating housing having electrical contact terminalstherein, said housings and said terminals being hermaphroditic,

each of said housings having a mating face and a rearward face, aplurality of contact-receiving cavities extending into said housing fromsaid mating face, said cavities being in side-by-side relationship andforming a row, each of said housings having openings in one side thereofwhich extends beside, and parallel to, said row, said openingscommunicating with said cavities,

each of said electrical contact terminals comprising a sheet metalstamped and formed member having a conductor gripping portion, aconductor receiving portion, a contact portion, and a shearing member,said portions of said terminal and said gripping member being inalignment with each other in the order recited with said conductorgripping portion adjacent to said one side of said housing and saidshearing member adjacent to the other side of said housing which isopposite to said one side, said gripping portion comprising a pair ofspaced-apart arms extending towards said mating face, said arms beingadapted to be crimped onto a conductor, said conductor receiving-portioncomprising a pair of aligned plate sections having aligned slotsextending therein for reception of a conductor, said contact portioncomprising a pair of contact arms extending towards said mating face,said shearing member comprising a shearing plate, whereby first andsecond housings, and thereafter moving said conductors laterally oftheir axes into the conductorreceiving portions of said correspondingterminals,

shearing said conductors in the planes of said shearing plate, andcrimping said conductor gripping portions.

onto said conductors, and said first and second connectors canthereafter be coupled to each other to disengageably connect saidconductors to each other.

1. First and second electrical connectors, said connectors beingpre-loaded with electrical contact terminals to which conductors can beattached, said connectors being mateable with each other, said first andsecond connectors each comprising an insulating, housing having a matingface and a rearward face, said mating faces being against each otherwhen said connectors are coupled, a plurality of contact receivingcavities extending into said housing from said mating face, saidcavities being in side-by-side relationship and forming a row, anelectrical contact terminal in each of said cavities, each of saidcontact terminals comprising a contact portion and a conductor-receivingportion, each of said conductor-receiving portions having a conductorreceiving slot means extending inwardly in a direction normal to saidmating face, said slot means being side-by-side in said row and eachslot means being adapted to receive a conductor which extends acrosssaid mating face and across said row upon movement of said conductorlaterally of its axis towards said mating face and into said slot means,each of said contact portions having contact surfaces which areproximate to said mating face and which are adapted to engage, and forman electrical connection with, complementary contact surfaces uponrelative movement of said complementary contact surfaces towards saidmating face and into engagement with said contact surfaces, said contactsurfaces of said contact terminals in one of said connectors beingcomplementary to said contact surfaces of said contact terminals in theother one of said connectors whereby, predetermined conductors can beconnected to said terminals in said first and second connectors bypositioning said first and second connectors adjacent to each other withtheir mating faces in side-by-side relationship and facing in the samedirection, locating said conductors with their axes extending acrosssaid mating faces and in alignment with said conductorreceiving slotmeans of each of two corresponding terminals in said first and secondconnectors, moving said conductors laterally of their axes into saidslot means, and cutting out the portion of each conductor which isbetween each corresponding pair of terminals.
 2. First and secondelectrical connectors as set forth in claim 1, said insulating housingsand said contact terminals being hermaphroditic.
 3. First and secondelectrical connectors as set forth in claim 1, said contact terminalsbeing hermaphroditic.
 4. First and second electrical connectors as setforth in claim 3, each of said contact terminals being of formed sheetmetal, said conductor-receiving portion comprising a pair ofplate-sections, said slot means of each of said terminals comprising aslot extending into each of said plate sections.
 5. First and secondelectrical connectors as set forth in claim 4, said plate-sectionsextending parallel to each other and having outer ends, said outer endsbeing joined by spaced-apart strap sections.
 6. First and secondelectrical connectors as set forth in claim 5, each of said contactterminals having its contact portions extending from one of said platesections and comprising a pair of contact arms extending towards saidmating face, at least one of said arms extending beyond said outer endsof said plate sections.
 7. First and second electrical connectors as setforth in claim 6, each of said contact terminals having conductorgripping means extending from the other one of said plate sections, saidconductor gripping means being engageable with a conductor to grip, andprovide a strain relief for, a conductor extending into said slots insaid plate sections.
 8. First and second electrical connectors as setforth in claim 7, each of said contact terminals having conductorsevering means integral with said contact portion, said conductorssevering means comprising a shearing member extending beside saidcontact arms, said shearing member being cooperable with an insertionapparatus to shear the portion of said conductor which extends beyondsaid contact arms during insertion of said conductor into said slots. 9.First and second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 1, saidinsulating housings being hermaphroditic.
 10. First and secondelectrical connectors as set forth in claim 9, each of said insulatinghousings comprising a one piece molding of polymeric materials, saidcontact-receiving cavities extending into said mating face.
 11. Firstand second electrical connectors as set forth in claim 10, each of saidhousings having openings in one side thereof which extends beside, andparallel to, said row, said openings communicating with said cavitiesfor the accomodation of said conductors.
 12. First and second electricalconnectors, each of said connectors comprising an insulating housinghaving electrical contact terminals therein, said housings and saidterminals being hermaphroditic, each of said housings having a matingface and a rearward face, a plurality of contact-receiving cavitiesextending into said housing from said mating face, said cavities beingin side-by-side relationship and forming a row, each of said housingshaving openings in one side thereof which extends beside, and parallelto, said row, said openings communicating with said cavities, each ofsaid electrical contact terminals comprisinG a sheet metal stamped andformed member having a conductor gripping portion, a conductor receivingportion, a contact portion, and a shearing member, said portions of saidterminal and said gripping member being in alignment with each other inthe order recited with said conductor gripping portion adjacent to saidone side of said housing and said shearing member adjacent to the otherside of said housing which is opposite to said one side, said grippingportion comprising a pair of spaced-apart arms extending towards saidmating face, said arms being adapted to be crimped onto a conductor,said conductor receiving-portion comprising a pair of aligned platesections having aligned slots extending therein for reception of aconductor, said contact portion comprising a pair of contact armsextending towards said mating face, said shearing member comprising ashearing plate, whereby predetermined conductors can be connected topredetermined terminals in said first and second connectors bypositioning said first and second connectors adjacent to each other withsaid other sides proximate to each other, with said mating faces facingin the same direction, and with said housings inverted end-for-end, andupon subsequently locating said conductors with their axes extendingacross said mating faces and in alignment with the conductor receivingportions of a pair of corresponding aligned contact terminals in saidfirst and second housings, and thereafter moving said conductorslaterally of their axes into the conductor-receiving portions of saidcorresponding terminals, shearing said conductors in the planes of saidshearing plate, and crimping said conductor gripping portions onto saidconductors, and said first and second connectors can thereafter becoupled to each other to disengageably connect said conductors to eachother.